Interview #39: The Art of Fatima Ordinola
Fatima Ordinola talks about her journey as a picture book illustrator
Hello art community :)) Today's interview is about children's books and art style. I really love Fatima Ordinola's approach to illustration, and I’m really happy that she’ll share some bits of her art process in here. Also, I would love to hear from you what artists and topics you would like to see on forArtists page in the next months :))
For those just finding me - I’m Madalina, an artist and illustrator who loves discovering and talking to many fellow artists. I now share these conversations through monthly interviews available to read for everyone :)
Fatima Ordinola is a Peruvian children's book illustrator currently living in the U.K. after completing her master's degree at Cambridge School of Art. In 2022 and 2023 her work was selected for the Illustrators Exhibition at the Bologna Children's Book Fair. She mainly uses traditional mediums to achieve expressive textures, intriguing shapes and joyful colors. Mixing different materials like collage, gouache and pencils is part of her creative process providing depth and vibrancy to her scenes. But let's ask her more about her unique process!
✿ Hi Fatima and thank you for joining forArtists. How would you describe your artistic journey that led you to where you are today?
My journey as a picture book maker began during my BA Graphic Design studies in Lima, Peru. A pivotal moment early in my career was a visit to my university's book fair, which sparked my decision to become an illustrator. There, I discovered children's books and artists who deeply inspired me, leading me to research and plan my future studies in the MA Children's Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art.
I gained a lot of experience working as a designer at a design studio and at the same time publishing a few books as an illustrator in Peru. Balancing my design work and my passion for children's literature has kept me motivated to participate in different contests and exhibitions around the world.
I was particularly proud and happy when I won a picture book contest in Mexico for a story written by a Peruvian author and illustrated by me. Since then, I've worked hard to show my work, practice my technique and storytelling. Working with The Bright Agency to represent my work has been a wonderful experience; I was able to publish my debut picture book as an author, Our Love, with Post Wave publisher.
✿ How has your style evolved since attending the MA? And what new techniques have you discovered there and still use to this day?
Doing the MA has changed my creative process in different ways. From working a lot with sketchbooks and trying different materials to exploring printmaking techniques like screen printing, monoprint and etching. Studying at Cambridge School of Art has been a wonderful experience to discover all the things I'm capable of doing and to develop my own voice.
Now, when I'm working on a new project I use my sketchbook to do observational drawing and research everything I need for my story.
✿ What valuable lessons helped you grasp the essence of being a children's book illustrator?
Květa Pacovská's quote, ‘‘A picture book is the first art gallery a child visits’’, profoundly resonates with me. It constantly reminds me of the immense power of illustrations and storytelling, fueling my drive to create new narratives.
I'm particularly drawn to children's books that don't underestimate their young audience but instead inspire them to explore different topics and stories. The way a book can transform our understanding of ourselves and the world is captivating, and the conversations sparked after a reading session are what truly fascinate me.
✿ What resources, aside from the master's degree, have helped you strengthen your skills and confidence as an illustrator?
Reading has significantly fueled my creativity and shaped my personality. I believe that immersing yourself in a wide variety of books provides a good amount of resources for researching, developing, and writing stories.
Also, I find that listening to other artists, such as illustrators, actors, or cinematographers, talk about their creative processes is incredibly beneficial.
✿ Speaking of your current projects, what techniques and medium combinations have you used in your latest book Our Love?
When I was working on Our Love, I tried different printmaking techniques such as monoprint, etching and screen printing. I was trying to find the best material that could show the softness and tenderness of the animals on each page.
Once I tried many of them, I was very happy to see my desk with the results on it and felt more prepared to make the decision of using chalk pastels and ink for the final artwork. Also the editors at Post Wave helped me achieve the right colors and finishing touches for my book.
* Grab your signed copy of Our Love book here.
✿ Can you walk us through the process of one of the illustrations, maybe the cover illustration?
I found working on the cover incredibly exciting as it allowed me to develop various options for the editors and designers at Post Wave. When creating a picture book cover, it's crucial to consider it as an integral part of the story, not just an isolated element.
The cover should offer a glimpse into the characters and settings, much like the endpapers and interior pages.
This is where my graphic design skills truly come into play; my background as a designer has given me a strong understanding of how to effectively combine layout, composition, and illustration.
✿ You also work a lot in your sketchbook. How would you describe your relationship with your sketchbook and how often do you use it?
I have a very strong and close relationship with my sketchbook because it's a tool that I use daily to develop my ideas and draw from observation. I have a variety of sketchbooks on my desk and I use each of them for different purposes.
My favorite ones are Pith and Talens Art Creation because of the good paper quality and size range. I've learned to always carry a sketchbook with me, just in case inspiration calls!
✿ What are your favorite tools and mediums?
I enjoy working with inks, pencils and Unison chalk pastels. My desk is always a bit messy with materials, children's books and sketchbooks overlapping every time I try to doodle something, but I plan to grow my creative space and have a bigger space or a studio in the future :)
✿ What people don't know about you, the person behind the art?
I'm naturally quite shy, and joining a theater group when I first started illustrating really helped me overcome some of that. I'm still working on my shyness, and to help with that, I try to join various clubs and meet new people.
For example, I run with a group in Cambridge once a week, which has been great for both my motivation and achieving my goals. It also helped me discover my love for running, and I plan to keep doing it :)
☆☆ Learn more about Fatima's work on her website and Instagram.
